Structural device



July 18, 1967 .1. A. FORD 3,331,428

STRUCTURAL DEVICE Filed June 11, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VENTOR.

Jim/5 ,4 F000 3 l J. A. FORD July 18, 1967 STRUCTURAL DEVICE 2Sheets-Sheet Filed June 11, 1964 BIZ? INVENTOR. /AM$ A faep BY MiZAA/WUnited States Patent 3,331,428 STRUCTURAL DEVHJE James A. Ford, Sturgis,Mich, assignor to Kirsch Company, Sturgis, Mich, a corporation ofMichigan Filed June 11, 1964, Ser. No. 374,371 11 Claims. (Cl. 160-331)This invention relates to a panel-supporting traverse rod andparticularly to a type thereof in which the master carriers are actuatedby power energizable means contained within the rod itself.

Inasmuch as the invention was developed primarily for the traversingsupport of draperies and other similar panels, the following descriptionwill proceed in terms of such application. However, it will berecognized that in its broader aspects, the invention is applicable tothe traversing support of other types of panels, such as doors orscreens of general applicability.

Turning now for illustrative purposes to the specific subject oftraverse rods for use with draperies and similar decorative and/ orlight-excluding panels, the convenience of providing power-operatedmeans, such as electric means, for actuating same has long been wellrecognized. Particularly, where very heavy draperies having longtraverses are involved, such as in many institutional uses, or where, asis sometimes the case, the drapery is located in a position not readilyaccessible for manual operation, the use of power-operated means isdesirable and is widely used. Further, it is frequently desired to openand close draperies automatically in response to ambient light intensityfor which purpose light-responsive photoelectric cells are used to causeoperation of traversing motors. However, in the systems adaptable tothese purposes, with which I am acquainted, the power-operated meansmerely serve to move the conventional draw cords in essentially the samemanner as when they are manually operated. In other words, the traverserod and its operating draw cords are essentially the same for eithermanual or power operation and the power means serve merely to move thedraw cords in one direction or the other.

This is reasonably satisfactory insofar as its operation is concernedbut it causes serious maintenance problems in that the driving means hasheavy frictional engagement with the draw cords so that severe wearproblems are encountered. Replacement of the draw cord in a traverse rodis always a time-consuming matter and when there is also a driving motorinvolved, the replacement of such a cord is further complicated. Also,the motor must be relatively large to overcome the considerablefrictional forces created by the draw cords passing over the end pulleysand tension pulleys in conventional traverse rods. In addition, the drawcords in a traverse rod will sometimes get out of place and bind on apulley or become caught on a hanger or other parts of the apparatus.When this happens in a manually operated device, the operator manuallysenses the existence of a malfunction and can stop the operation. Whenthe same thing occurs in a motor-driven unit, the apparatus is likely tobecome badly jammed or otherwise damaged before the malfunction isdetected. While various types of safety devices, such as slip-typedrives, can be provided, such are complex and expensive and, hence, areundesirable. Further, many people consider draw cords of any kind to beunsightly and, therefore, undesirable.

Accordingly, it is among the objects of the invention:

(1) To provide a power-operable traversing device adaptable to thesupport and traversing of household or institutional draperies or thelike, which will be of maximum effectiveness and reliability while beingof minimum original cost and requiring a minimum of maintenance.

(2) To provide a traversing device, as aforesaid, which 3,331,428Patented July 18, 1967 will eliminate the draw cords customarilyprovided for presently known traverse rods of this general type.

(3) T 0 provide a traversing device, as aforesaid, in which the motormay be mounted on and be an integral part of the master slide of thetraversing assembly.

(4) To provide a traversing device, as aforesaid, in which the powerconductors for supplying current to the motor are contained within thetraverse rod itself and the motor cooperates therewith to derive energytherefrom.

(5) To provide a traversing device, as aforesaid, whose structuralfeatures will render it capable of meeting the requirements andoperating conditions encountered in commercial and institutionalinstallations.

(6) To provide an integral motor and master slide adaptable for use inplace of the conventional master slide of a drapery traverse unit andwhich will be sufiiciently small and inconspicuous that its use will notbe objectionable from a decorative point of view.

Other objects and purposes of the invention will be apparent to personsacquainted with apparatus of this general type upon reading thefollowing specification and inspecting the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a broken, front elevational view of a traverse unitembodying the invention, and showing in 'broken lines the positions ofthe stopping blocks.

FIGURE 2 is an exploded, perspective view of portions of the unit shownin FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken on the line IIIIII of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken on the line IV1V of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken on the line VV of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken on the line VI-VI of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view taken on the line VII-- VIII of FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view taken on the line VIII VIII of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 9 is a sectional view taken on the line IX-IX of FIGURE 8 andshowing one master carrier approaching the center stopping block.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a track 1 for supporting andguiding a pair of master carriers 2. While a pair of master carriers areshown for a two-way draw operation, it will be apparent that a singlemaster carrier can be used for a one-way draw operation. Also, more thantwo master carriers can be provided at spaced points along the track. Areversible motor unit 3 is mounted on each of the master carriers and isadapted to drive the carrier back-and-forth along the track 1 asdesired. Any suitable control device, such as a three-position switch 6,may be provided for controlling each said motor unit. The switch 6, forexample, may have a first position in which the carrier is moved towardthe right, a second position in which the carrier is moved toward theleft and a third position in which the carrier is stopped.

While the track structure 1 may take any of many specific shapes, theone set forth in the drawings will be sufiicient to illustrate theinvention and reference is accordingly made thereto. The track 1 in thisemobdiment is provided with dual channels 7 and 3, one thereof beingadapted for supporting the panel-supporting carriers and the otherthereof being adapted for supporting the structure for energizing themotor units 3. The channel 7, here adapted for supporting the carriers,is generally shaped as an inverted U and it has flanges 11 and 12defining a slot which opens downwardly for the reception of draperysupport carriers 13, such as nylon slides of conventional form, as wellas the master carriers 2. Alternatively, the slider-carrying channel mayface sidewardly as shown in my patent application Ser. No. 159,851, nowPatent Number 3,151,666 assigned to the same assignee as the presentapplication.

The channel 8, here adapted for carrying the energizing structure forthe motor unit 3, has a block 14 of insulating material mounted thereinand retained in place by lips 15 and 15a. A plurality, normally three,of conductors 16, 17 and 18 are embedded in the block 14 in verticallyspaced-apart relation and are insulated from each other. The conductors16, 17 and 18 are insulated from the metal of the traverse rod 1 by theblock 14. If the traverse rod is itself formed of a non-conductivematerial, such as an extruded plastic, then the block 14 can be anintegral part of the track. The block 14 and the conductors 16, 17 and18 can be assembled together outside the track and then the block can beslid into place. Alternatively, a layer of plastic material can bepoured into the track so that it is molded in situ. While the plastic isstill flowable, the conductors can be embedded in the plastic so thatthey are held firmly into position when the plastic is solidified.

End caps 21 and 21a are provided for closing the ends of the track andbracket members 22 may conveniently be afiixed to said track forsupporting same on a suitable supporting structure, such as a wall. Thebrackets 22 can be of any conventional type and, desirably, are the sameas those shown in patent application Ser. No. 169,794, now abandoned.

The end cap 21 is provided with any suitable structure for contactingthe conductors 16, 17, and 18, which structure may be resilientconductive strips 23, 24 and 26 which are mounted in grooves in a plug25 which closely slideably interfits with the block 14. The strips 23,24 and 26 are connected to suitable source of current through wireswhich are connected through the switch 6 to a suitable source ofelectrical potential. One of the strips, here strip 24, is a commonground and the other two strips are energized in positive polarity andsuch energization may be either DC. or AC. End cap 21a in the embodimentshown has no electrical connections and merely closes a the end of therod.

The two motorized master carrier units 2 are in the embodiment shownwound in opposite polarities so that one switch 6 can serve to controlmovement of both drapery halves. However, this specific arrangementmerely suggests some of the many control possibilities which the presentinvention affords and others will suggest themselves to workers in thisart.

The motor unit 3 may take any of many forms wherein a motor ofsufliciently small size is provided for propelling itself along saidtrack and supporting and carrying a master carrier 2 which in turnsupports a panel for traversing movement. In this embodiment the motorunit 3 comprises a carriage structure 31 supporting a reversible,rotatable motor 32 whose shaft is connected through suitable gearing 33to a drive wheel 34. The drive wheel 34 may preferably be faced withsome high friction material, such as rubber, for improving its tractionwith respect to the track flanges 11 and 12. The carriage 31 is alsoprovided with a further supporting wheel 36 which may or may not bedriven as desired.

Shoes 41, 42 and 43 are arranged in vertically oirset longitudinallystaggered relation on a projecting arm 44 of the carriage 31 forengagement with the conductors 16, 17 and 18, respectively, forenergization thereby. The shoes 41, 42 and 43 are staggered to preventshort circuit- The shoes 41, 42 and 43 are suitably connected to themotor 32 so that energization of the conductor 16 will rotate the motorin one direction whereas energization of the conductor 18 in the samepolarity will drive the motor in the opposite direction.

A panel support arm 46 extends from the carriage 31 for connection tothe panel in any conventional manner. If desired, said master carrier 31may receive supplemental support from the arm 44 which extends throughthe slot of channel 8 in a manner set forth in more detail inapplication Ser. No. 159,851.

Referring again to the two-way draw structure illustrated in thedrawings, in order automatically to stop supply of current to the motorunits 3 when the draperies are closed, there is provided structure forautomatically disengaging one of shoes 41, 42 and 43 of each unit 3,here the shoe 41, from its associated conductor, here conductor 16. Inthe disclosed embodiment, this is carried out by a block 51 ofinsulating material disposed in the channel 8 at the location where themaster carriers are adjacent each other. The block 51 is releasablyfixed in place therein by screw 52 and lock washer 53.

The block 51 is T-sha-ped in plan view and has three grooves 54, 55 and56 in one surface into which fit the conductors 16, 17 and 18, the uppergroove 54 being formed in the cross-bar of the T. The surface of thecrossbar of the T opposite the groove 54 is shaped to form oppositelyinclined cams 57 and 58 so that when the shoes 41 engage same they aremoved out of contact with the conductor 16. It is assumed in thisdiscussion that when conductor 16 is energized, the master carriers aremoved toward each other so that movement of the master carriers ceaseswhen shoes 41 are disengaged from conductor 16. It will be noted thatwhen such occurs, shoes 42 and 43 will still be contacting' theconductors 17 and 18 so that when conductor 18 is energized, the mastercarriers 2 will be moved apart.

It will also be desirable to disengage shoes 43 from conductor 18 whenthe panels reach their open position. For this purpose additional blocks59 and 61 can be mounted in the tracks near the opposite ends thereof.These blocks correspond in all respects to the block 51 exceptthat theyare inverted so that their cross-bars are lowermost whereby they canserve to disengage the shoes 43 from conductor 18.

It is to be noted that the blocks 59 and 61 can be adjusted along thetrack 1 to compensate for variations in draperies, particularly thedesired, pack-back. Likewise,

block 51 can be adjusted lengthwise as needed, for example, if panels ofdifferent lengths are connected to the respective master carriers. Itwill be apparent that the same techniques, with appropriatemodifications can be used for one-way operation, or when more .than twomaster carriers are used, either for one-way or two-way draw operation.

It will also be understood that the blocks 51, 59 and 61 can beeliminated where the switch 6 is a three-posit-ion switch so that theuser can de-ener'gize all of the conductors 16, 17 and 18 by operatingthe switch. This is less desirable for many situations because it doesnot provide for an automatic stopping of the motors, but it may bedesirable in order to make it possible to position the panels inpositions between the fully open and fully closed positions. If theswitch 6 is a two-position switch, then the panels will necessarily runto said blocks 51, 59

and 61 before stopping.

In use, assuming that the panels are in an open condi-' tion with themaster carriers 2 in the position shown in FIGURE 1, when it is desiredto move the panels to a closed position the switch 6 is actuated toenergize the conductor 16. This in turn supplies current to the motors32 to cause rotation of the drive wheels 34 so that the master carriers2 move toward each other. When the shoes 41 engage the cams 57 and 58,and are moved out of contact with the conductor 16, the motors arede-energized and movement of the master carriers stops.

When it is desired to move the master carriers 2 to the FIGURE 1position, the switch 6 is actuated to cause energization of the strip 18which energizes the motors to cause movement of the master. carriersaway from each other. Such continues until the shoes 43 engage the camson the blocks 59 and 61 and are moved thereby out of contact with thestrip 18, whereupon movement of the master carriers ceases.

While in the embodiment shown, the two motor units are operablesimultaneously from a single switch, it will be evident from thedisclosure already given that a simple modification in the controlsystem can render each of the two motor units independently operablefrom independent switches.

While the motor 32 provided for the motor unit 3 herein shown is arotative motor, it will be understood that other kinds of motor devicesmay be utilized, such as any of the many straight-line solenoid type ofmotors available and commonly utilized for doors.

Although particular preferred embodiments of the invention have beendisclosed above in detail for illustrative purposes, it will berecognized that variations or modification of such disclosure, which liewithin the scope of the appended claims are fully contemplated.

What is claimed is:

1. A traverse rod construction for supporting movable panel means, thecombination comprising:

a driving unit;

elongated track means for supporting said panel means and said drivingunit, said track means having a first channel having a lengthwiseextending slot opening outwardly therefrom; electrical conductorsmounted on and extending lengthwise of said track means outside of saidfirst channel;

means on said driving unit responsive to energization thereof from saidconductors for moving said driving unit along said track means;

said driving unit having a plurality of rollers positioned in said firstchannel supported thereon for movement therealong, said rollers beingconnected to said driving unit by means extending through said slot,said driving unit further including driving means for driving at leastone of said rollers so that said driving unit can be moved lengthwisealong said track means in response to the electrical energization ofsaid conductors;

said track means having a second channel positioned in side-by-siderelation to said first channel, said conductors being located in saidsecond channel, said driving unit including a further support extendinginto said second channel and slidably supported thereon and havingelements extending through said further support into said secondchannel, said elements being in sliding contact with said conductors.

2. A traverse rod construction according to claim 1 including switchmeans for controlling the supply of electrical potential to saidconductors.

3. A traverse rod construction according to claim 1, including means fordisconnecting said driving unit from said conductors at selected pointsalong said track means.

4. A traverse rod construction according to claim 1, in which saiddriving unit includes an electric motor for moving said unit along saidtrack means.

5. A traverse rod construction according to claim 1, in which saiddriving unit includes elements in sliding contact with said conductorsand Winding means in said driving unit and connected to said elementsfor creating an electrical field for causing movement of said drivingunit along said track means.

6. A traverse rod construction according to claim 1, including endfixtures mounted on the ends of said track means, at least one of thefixtures having further conductors therein slideably interfitting withsaid first-named conductors in said track means.

7. A traverse rod construction according to claim 1, in which saidelectrical conductors are elongated strips mounted on the interior wallsof the second channel of said track means and said electricallyresponsive means are connected to said strips by sliding shoes mountedon said driving unit.

8. A traverse rod construction according to claim 7, in which said trackmeans is divided by a Wall into two compartments, said strips beingmounted in one compartment and said slot communicating with the othercompartment, a portion of the driving unit including the shoes beingmounted in said one compartment and another portion of the driving unitbeing mounted in the other compartment for sliding movement therealong.

9. A traverse rod construction according to claim 7, includinginsulating means mounted at selected points inside of the second channelof said track means, said insulating means having cam surfaces forengaging said shoes and moving them out of engagement with said strips.

10. A traverse rod construction according to claim 1 including panelengaging means mounted rigidly onto said driving unit for operativelyassociating said driving unit with said panel means whereby movement ofsaid driving unit along said track means will effect correspondingmovement of said panel means.

11. The traverse rod construction according to claim 10 wherein thepanel engaging means is mounted at the side of said driving unit and atleast partially overlapping same whereby the said driving unit is atleast partially concealed by the panel and said panel is supported anddriven thereby.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,881,016 10/1932 Rose 49-358 X1,952,681 3/1934 Peelle 49-358 2,755,081 7/1956 Johnson et al. 160-1882,790,635 4/1957 Evans et a1. 268-59 3,003,552 10/1961 Eilenberger160-331 3,028,455 4/1962 Devonshire 191-23 3,136,358 6/1964 Madsen160-331 3,204,170 8/1965 Monks 268-59 X FOREIGN PATENTS 1,057, 6 5/1959Germany.

DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY, Primary Examiner. HARRISON R. =MOSELEY, Examiner.P. C. KANNAN, Assistant Examiner.

1. A TRAVERSE ROD CONSTRUCTION FOR SUPPORTING MOVABLE PANEL MEANS, THECOMBINATION COMPRISING: A DRIVING UNIT; ELONGATED TRACK MEANS FORSUPPORTING SAID PANEL MEANS AND SAID DRIVING UNIT, SAID TRACK MEANSHAVING A FIRST CHANNEL HAVING A LENGTHWISE EXTENDING SLOT OPENINGOUTWARDLY THEREFROM; ELECTRICAL CONDUCTORS MOUNTED ON AND EXTENDINGLENGTHWISE OF SAID TRACK MEANS OUTSIDE OF SAID FIRST CHANNEL; MEANS ONSAID DRIVING UNIT RESPONSIVE TO ENERGIZATION THEREOF FROM SAIDCONDUCTORS FOR MOVING SAID DRIVING UNIT ALONG SAID TRACK MEANS; SAIDDRIVING UNIT HAVING A PLURALITY OF ROLLERS POSITIONED IN SAID FIRSTCHANNEL SUPPORTED THEREON FOR MOVEMENT THEREALONG, SAID ROLLERS BEINGCONNECTED TO SAID DRIVING UNIT BY MEANS EXTENDING THROUGH SAID SLOT,SAID DRIVING UNIT FURTHER INCLUDING DRIVING MEANS FOR DRIVING AT LEASTONE OF SAID ROLLERS SO THAT SAID DRIVING UNIT CAN BE MOVED LENGTHWISEALONG SAID TRACK MEANS IN RESPONSE TO THE ELECTRICAL ENERGIZATION OFSAID CONDUCTORS; SAID TRACK MEANS HAVING A SECOND CHANNEL POSITIONED INSIDE-BY-SIDE RELATION TO SAID FIRST CHANNEL, SAID CONDUCTORS BEINGLOCATED IN SAID SECOND CHANNEL, SAID DRIVING UNIT INCLUDING A FURTHERSUPPORT EXTENDING INTO SAID SECOND CHANNEL AND SLIDABLY SUPPORTEDTHEREON SUPPORT INTO SAID SECOND CHANNEL, SAID ELEMENTS BEING IN SLIDINGCONTACT WITH SAID CONDUCTORS.